Fiji media says party decree in force from today

The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation says a new decree will come into force today regulating the registration of political parties.

This is in line with last week's announcement by the interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who spoke about the changes to the constitutional process.

FBC News says the elections minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has been expected to make an announcement this morning.

The new decree to regulate political parties comes amid trade union plans to launch a new party for the elections promised for next year.

According to the website Fijilive, one politician, Pramod Rae, suspects all existing parties might be eliminated.

The decree is part of a regime process which will see the production of a new constitution that will again have significant New Zealand input.

After dumping the draft it commissioned last year, the interim government said last week that it had commissioned a new draft from the Solicitor General's Office, which is run by Christopher Pryde of New Zealand.

The 1997 constitution abrogated by the regime four years ago was produced by a team led by New Zealander Sir Paul Reeves.